Prendergast set for IPC Athletics World Championships Marathon

New Zealand has named a three-strong team for the event which will take place in London, Great Britain. 23 Mar 2015
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Tim Prendergast of New Zealand competes in the Men's 800m T13 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Tim Prendergast of New Zealand competes in the Men's 800m T13 final at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

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By Athletics New Zealand

One of New Zealand’s most experienced para-athletes Tim Prendergast has been selected to compete at April’s IPC Athletics World Marathon Championships to be held in London, Great Britain.

Prendergast, formerly of Wellington, but now based in Britain, was a gold medallist at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games in the 800m T13. He also won silver medals in the 800m and 1,500m events at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

More recently the 36-year-old competed at London 2012 before making his marathon debut at the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2013, running 2:48:34 and placing 11th in the T11-T13 competition.

The other New Zealand athlete selected to run at the World Championships, which coincides with the Virgin Money London Marathon on 26 April, is Maria Williams of Wellington. Relatively new to the sport, the regional disability advisor at the Ministry of Social Development will be running her first full marathon.

Williams has been totally blind for 13 years and requires a guide for the race. This role will be provided by her coach, former double world mountain running champion Melissa Moon.

Moon has run the London Marathon three times previously and is currently training with Williams three times a week.